Skip to main content

A Race.


Last weekend Ivey, through the eyes, ears, lungs and legs of her brothers, completed another R.A.C.E Rome triathlon, this one to benefit the Open Door Home.  

Am I proud of them?  Absolutely.  

I am proud that Ivey has found a stable spot in her life.  That spot is something deep inside her.   

As for the boys, I am proud of their hard work and finishing each race - for their own perseverence.  Ivey is merely the cherry on top.  

As a spectator, it is interesting to hear different comments as the three of them move through the race.  
Yes, they are amazing.  But to me they are amazing because they are my babies.  

BUT.  The boys pulling Ivey through the race, for me, not so amazing.  

They do with her because they love her and they know no other way.  

Literally, they don't know or remember a life without her.  

A "typical" life I know.  Matt knows.  As for the boys - this is it.  
There are no memories of any other way or choice, no before.  For them it is - always and forever.  

They, just like every other aspect of their life, race differently.  They race the way kids do when their sibling requires -  different.  

During the races, the spectators are reminded of the value of "normalcy".  The value of our "typical"  abilities become more valuable.  

I am proud of the sportsmanship.  I am proud of our community.  I am proud of the school that hosts this race.  And I am proud to be their mom.  



  


Labels:

Comments

Cara Lord said…
Hi! I crossed paths with you a few years ago at deaf blind conference. I also have a son with special needs. You were one of the only other parents there and your story about Ivey stuck. For whatever reason you all crossed my mind tonight and I was so happy to find your blog. Her story continues to be amazing!!! You are an amazing mom and I love how your supportive your family is! I understand very well how day to day life with a special needs child can be challenging.. Sending prayers your way! Your family and Ivey are an inspiration, thank you for sharing her life story :)

Sincerely,
Cara Lord
October 3, 2013 at 9:51 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

And Sometimes Feeding Your Kiddo Looks Like This...

A simple sentence. No one said it to me in the beginning, but boy did that tube cause a lot of chaos. The NG tube graduated to the G-tube which morphed to a GJ- tube…. A brief history of Ivey's feeding tubes: *The NG tube was in place the first time I ever saw my daughter in the NICU.  My only memory of her without a feeding tube is them placing her in my arms immediately following her birth. *The G-tube, well, that is a story within itself.  That decision did not come lightly.  Another hole in her.  Another decision on our plate, but not really on our plate, it was apparent it was a medical necessity for her survival.  Literally to give her a chance to live.  A permanent decision.  A 5am panic attack in the Scottish Rite elevator that happened to coincide with Dr. Meyers arriving at the hospital at the same time as me.... Our intersection in the elevator set the stage for the years to follow. From that point on, he knew I was a little nuts and a lot...
Post a Comment
Read more

BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES........

56 comments
Read more

Sibling Secret Sauce

Siblings of kiddos with disabilities are amazing humans walking amongst us. They live a life, most often, in the shadows of their sibling who simply needs "more". More time. More direct attention. More of more. We have now come to a fork in our road. Our boys are young men, and, our daughter is a young lady. I'll be honest, I was uncertain what life would look like once the boys left this home, once they had their own time, in their own personal sunshine. We found out quickly once Knox left for college his freshman year what that would look like. And then, when Walker left, we knew what life would feel like in their absence. There was too much space. Ivey felt it. We get many compliments about the relationship the boys and Ivey have with one another. Hints here and there that, maybe, Matt and I had some secret recipe to parenting a household with a child that is very medically complex and a very complex communicator. This is what I can tell you - there is no re...
Post a Comment
Read more